Climbing Up the Golden Stair

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Theme code Index	1H3H1H3H 1H3H2H2H
Also known as	Climbing the Golden Stairs
Composer/Core Source	Biography:F. Heiser
Region	United States
Genre/Style	Old-Time
Meter/Rhythm	Reel (single/double)
Key/Tonic of	D
Accidental	2 sharps
Mode	Ionian (Major)
Time signature	2/4
History
Structure	AABB'
Editor/Compiler	Biography:Ira Ford
Book/Manuscript title	Book:Traditional Music in America
Tune and/or Page number	p. 38
Year of publication/Date of MS	1940
Artist
Title of recording
Record label/Catalogue nr.
Year recorded
Media
Score ()

CLIMBING UP THE GOLDEN STAIR. Old-Time, Song and Breakdown. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. This tune, a composition of F. Heiser, is from the American minstrel repertoire and passed into fiddling tradition. Unfortunately, the words are rather patently racist. There was a singing dance call to the tune.

Come all you little n.....s,
Now watch your cues and figures,
Climbing up the golden stairs.
If they think you are a dude,
They will treat you rather rude,
Climbing up the golden stairs!

Then hear them bells a-ringing,
'Tis sweet I do declare.
Oh hear them darkies singing,
Climbing up the golden stairs. (Ford)

Additional verses in Ford (1940, p. 284).

Printed sources: Ford (Traditional Music in America), 1940; p. 38. Ruth (Pioneer Western Folk Tunes), 1948; No. 25, p. 10.

X:1
T:Climbing the Golden Stairs
M:2/4
L:1/8
S:Viola "Mom" Ruth - Pioneer Western Folk Tunes (1948)
Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion
K:D
d/d/d/d/ f<a | d/e/d/d/ f<a | d/d/d/d/ fa | e3 (e/f/) | g/f/e/d/ c(e/f/) | g/f/e/d/ ce | 
a/aa/ ge | d3(3A/B/c/ :: dfb>a | a g3 g/ | cea>^g | a3 (3A/B/c/ | 
dfb>a | a g3 g/ | a/a/a/a/ ge |1 (d2d) (3A/B/c/:|2 (d2d) ||